2013 VW Polo R WRC

This is the new Polo R WRC. And it's faster and more powerful than a Golf GTI.

How much, we hear you crow? Well, the Polo R WRC's got a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that makes 217bhp and 258lb. The soon-to-be-vanquished Mk6 GTI makes 207bhp and 207lb ft, leaving it 10bhp and 51lb ft behind.

It's the same story on the street. The WRC gets to 62mph in 6.4 seconds, which is 0.8 seconds faster than the aged Mk6, and keeps going till it gets to 151mph. Which is rather quick.

But not quite as quick as the 252bhp Audi A1 Quattro, which shares more than a little with the Polo. But there's one profound difference: the A1 has four-wheel drive. The Polo R WRC doesn't - all the power goes through the front wheels. Mmm, torque steer...

Other lovely stuff? There's a big plastic nappy inspired by the 2013 Polo R WRC rally car, as well as bigger grilles, a rear diffuser and a tailgate spoiler. It's also got a set of multi-spoke 18-inch wheels on wide, low-profile rubber, as well as a set of upgraded brakes hiding behind them.

Then there's the paintjob, which mirrors the white-with-blue-stripes livery that'll appear on the anti-lagalicious WRC rally cars, which are due to debut in Monaco next year.

Want one? Unlucky. Well, unlucky if you're British. VW won't be sending any of the strictly limited 2,500-unit production run here, and they're all left-hand drive. Then there's the pricetag, which is similarly GTI-busting - it starts at €33,900, or a shade over £27,000.

This, or a Clio 200, TopGear.commers?